Harrah's Hoosier Park: On To Norway headlines field for Caesars Trotting Classic

The stage is set for one of Harrah's Hoosier Park's signature nights on Friday, Sept. 25, with more than $1.35 million in purses on the line headlined by the $200,000 Grade 2 Caesars Trotting Classic presented by Kountry Lane Standardbreds where North America's fastest trotter, On To Norway, will look to hold serve on his home track.

The 15-race card gets underway at 5:30 p.m., with the feature serving as the 12^th race on the program with eight of North America's best free-for-all trotters set to line up. On To Norway has been established as the 2-1 morning line choice with John De Long slated to drive for trainer Ron Burke.

Entering off a rare defeat in a runner-up effort at Scioto Downs in the Charlie Hill Memorial, On To Norway returns home where he has not tasted defeat in the Hoosier State in his last 29 tries, 28 of those coming at Hoosier Park, with the additional victory coming last August at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. After winning his final 23 starts in Indiana at age 3, the gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding to the national scene by storm at age 4, with his 1:48 3/5 World Record victory in the $230,000 Graduate Final, before coming right back with a win in the $425,000 G1 Hambletonian Maturity at the 1-1/8-mile distance over Super Chapter. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal and The Black & White Stable, On To Norway enters the Caesars Trotting Classic with $1,147,131 in career earnings and a career record of 44-36-6-0.

On To Norway is one of three from the Burke Brigade, joined by Antognoni S (Post 4, Yannick Gingras) and defending champion Lexus Kody (Post 7, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who each enter off tries in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot. 

Leaving next to On To Norway from post two is last year's Breeders Crown champion French Wine. Last year's Driver of the Year Jason Bartlett will pilot the 6-year-old stallion son of Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi for trainer Nancy Takter. The career earner of $1.76 million enters off a runner-up effort to the sport's top ranked horse Super Chapter in the $446,400 Maple Leaf Trot in his last try before shipping to Indiana. French Wine has been tabbed as the 5-1 third choice on the morning line.

The 2026 Caesars Trotting Classic field, in post-position order with trainers and listed drivers below:

Ponda Jet - Jay Hochstetler - Kyle Wilfong - 15-1     

French Wine - Nancy Takter - Jason Bartlett - 5-1                     

On To Norway - Ron Burke - John De Long - 2-1                        

Antognoni S - Ron Burke - Yannick Gingras - 9-2                        

R Dutchess - John Butenschoen - Tim Tetrick - 6-1          

Aetos Kronos S - Marcus Melander - Dexter Dunn - 6-1           

Lexus Kody - Ron Burke - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - 6-1                   

Gimpanzee Dancer - Chris Beaver - Dave Miller - 15-1                                           

The very next race on the card will be the $175,000 Grade 2 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, with a field of 10 free for all pacers featuring eight millionaires making up the field. Included in the group is the 2026 Dan Patch Champion Dandy Ideal (Post 1, Jason Bartlett), defending champion of the race Maximus Miki (Post 3, Scott Zeron), Jim Ewart champion Ken Hanover (Post 4, Tim Tetrick), and double-millionaire Bythemissal (Post 10, Chris Page).

The 2026 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby field, in post-position order with trainers and listed drivers below:

Dandy Ideal - Hunter Oakes - Jason Bartlett - 4-1     

Swingtown - Ron Burke - Yannick Gingras - 10-1                     

Maximus Miki - Thomas Cancelliere - Scott Zeron - 20-1                       

Ken Hanover - Roland Mallar - Tim Tetrick - 5-2                        

Clever Cody - Francois Lecomte - Luke Ebersole - 10-1          

Fallout - Ron Burke - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - 8-1           

Coach Stefanos - Erv Miller - Marcus Miller - 12-1

Women Layer - Virgil Morgan Jr. - Dave Miller - 7-1

Huntinthelastdolar - Petter Engblom - Dexter Dunn - 9-1

Bythemissal - Ron Burke - Chris Page - 6-1

In total, nine graded stakes races will be contested on the Friday program. With stakes action throughout, the wagering action will also be hot and heavy from the jump, with $90,000 in guaranteed wagers offered in partnership with the USTA's strategic wagering program including:

·         $10,000 GTD Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5)

·         $10,000 DTD Early Pick 4 (Races 2-5)

·         $15,000 GTD Mid-Card Pick 4 (Races 6-9)

·         $10,000 GTD Late Pick 5 (Races 8-12)

·         $30,000 GTD Late Pick 4 (Races 12-15)

·         $15,000 GTD Late High 5 (Race 15)

For those attending in-person, there will be plenty to do on the track apron with promotions and family fun entertainment. From 6-10pm, guests may enjoy a live music, Food Trucks, Bounce Houses, inflatable games and Vendor Market located in The Yard, as well as free yard games available in the Hoosier Outdoor Patio.

For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

-edited release (Hoosier)